David Reed Dowell was first admitted to the California Bar 5th February 1973, but is now no longer eligible to practice. David graduated from UC Hastings COL.
Lawyer Information
| Name | David Reed Dowell |
|---|---|
| First Admitted | 5 February 1973 (51 years, 3 months ago) |
| Status | Not Eligible to Practice |
| Bar Number | 55145 |
Contact
| Current Email | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Phone Number | (864) 590-8185 |
Schools
| Law School | UC Hastings COL (San Francisco CA) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | University of California Davis (Davis CA) |
Address
| Current Address | 6148 Hopewell Dr Holiday, FL 34690 |
|---|---|
| Map |
History
| 1 September 2001 | Not Eligible To Practice Law (22 years, 8 months ago) |
|---|---|
| 12 July 2001 | Inactive (22 years, 9 months ago) |
| 11 July 2001 | Active (22 years, 9 months ago) |
| 11 January 2001 | Not Eligible To Practice Law (23 years, 3 months ago) |
| 27 August 1990 | Active (33 years, 8 months ago) |
| 5 February 1973 | Admitted to The State Bar of California (51 years, 3 months ago) |
Discipline Summaries
June 29, 2006 DAVID REED DOWELL [#55145], 59, of Spartanburg, S.C. was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with a 90-day actual suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within one year, comply with rule 955 and prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect June 29, 2006. Dowell failed to comply with probation conditions attached to a 2002 stipulation — he did not file timely quarterly reports or proof of attendance at ethics school.The underlying suspension was filed for his failure to perform legal services competently or communicate with clients.In mitigation, he cooperated with the bar's investigation.Dowell lives out of state, does not practice law and doesn't intend to do so.November 16, 2002 DAVID REED DOWELL [#55145], 55, of Lacey's Spring, Ala. was suspended for one year, stayed, placed on two years of probation with an actual 60-day suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE within two years. The order took effect Nov. 16, 2002. Dowell stipulated that he failed to perform legal services competently or keep his client apprised of significant developments in his case.He was employed in 1993 to pursue post-conviction relief for a client convicted by a military court of assisting in a murder. Dowell filed a clemency petition which was denied, and then filed an appeal and argued before the U.S. Army Court of Military Review, which denied the appeal. He then filed a petition for review before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. It also was denied.In 1997, his client told him that the victim's widow signed an affidavit exonerating him from any involvement in the murder. The client's father paid Dowell $1,000 to pursue the case further.He did no further work on the case.The North Carolina State Bar ordered in 2002 that Dowell be publicly censured for failing to pursue the case and ordered him to refund the $1,000 fee.Dowell now teaches high school history and does not intend to practice law in California.January 11, 2001 DAVID REED DOWELL [#55145], 53, of Lacey’s Spring, Ala., was suspended for six months and was ordered to attend ethics school, take the MPRE within one year and comply with rule 955. The order took effect Jan. 11, 2001. Dowell stipulated that he engaged in misconduct in North Carolina which would subject him to discipline in California had it been committed here.He failed to file a lawsuit on behalf of a client, refund unearned fees, return the client’s file or respond to the North Carolina State Bar investigation and he moved his offices without notifying the client.Most of his misconduct resulted from an agreement to represent a client in an action for damages against the U.S. Marine Corps. The client paid Dowell $5,200, but after about a year and a half, the complaint still had not been filed and Dowell had moved from North Carolina to Alabama. He did not respond to two fee arbitration notices.In another matter in which he represented a client before the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dowell did not respond to letters from the North Carolina bar after the client complained.He notified the bar he could not appear at a grievance committee hearing because he was recovering from foot surgery, but he did not communicate further with the bar.In mitigation, Dowell has no other record of discipline and he had emotional and/or physical difficulties at the time of the misconduct. |